APS - How was your first day?

[Anonymous]

They told us there would be older kids to help the 1st graders find their classrooms (since parents can’t escort kids to the room), but apparently my daughter wandered around inside the new school by herself for 15 minutes before finding the room. Oops. And…she said that was her favorite part of the day.

“I was lost and it looked bleak for me. Then I found the classroom and I was only 3 minutes late! It was great!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

I’d give him a week or two to transition— it’s a big change from his K experience and it’s a longer day. I don’t think that’s typical for him to be so down the first day, so I’d reach out to the school counselor by the end of next week if things haven’t improved.

I totally agree to make sure the counselor has their eyes so you can get him in a better place about school. No this is not typical, I’m so sorry he had such a bad day. The lunch thing is really throwing me. Even with outdoor lunch they have the kids in fifth grade sitting in a circle next to each other. indoor, especially in first grade they typically have to sit all the same tables together. Have a teacher keep an eye on that tomorrow to see what the deal was.

Can someone expand on the role of the counselor? Is it like the guidance counselor I remember from the 1980s? How do they help people like my kiddo? Would he have a session with them? Any info is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Good day in elementary school. But teacher’s masks falling or off to talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great- 6th grader and 11th. Middle schooler’s largest class has about 20 kids. She gets her own main locker and PE locker. Very different from the older one’s experience, with packed classes/hallways and shared lockers. Both liked all teachers. School lunch got a thumbs down, though.

Which middle school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

I’d give him a week or two to transition— it’s a big change from his K experience and it’s a longer day. I don’t think that’s typical for him to be so down the first day, so I’d reach out to the school counselor by the end of next week if things haven’t improved.

I totally agree to make sure the counselor has their eyes so you can get him in a better place about school. No this is not typical, I’m so sorry he had such a bad day. The lunch thing is really throwing me. Even with outdoor lunch they have the kids in fifth grade sitting in a circle next to each other. indoor, especially in first grade they typically have to sit all the same tables together. Have a teacher keep an eye on that tomorrow to see what the deal was.

Can someone expand on the role of the counselor? Is it like the guidance counselor I remember from the 1980s? How do they help people like my kiddo? Would he have a session with them? Any info is appreciated.

Nope , very different now than in our school day. They can have a session with your kid or refer to the school pychologist if needed. Most can go into the classroom and offer support on transition topics for the class so your kid doesn'tfeel singled out. I know some that allow students to come to their space for anxiety moments during the day before returning to the classroom. Each school is different though as some schools only have a counselor and school psychologist, where as others have the fomer two and school social workers. All are qualified to help your child if needed. They are really ramped up this year from what I heard due to anticipation of transition problems.

[Anonymous]

The counselors are great at providing support for kids. Maybe they can do a small group pullout so kids don’t feel singled out. I wouldn’t hesitate to ask about it today. That is why they are there - no need to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good day in elementary school. But teacher’s masks falling or off to talk.

WHAT? No. APS teacher here. No. Complain.

[Anonymous]

6th grader & 8th grader at DHMS.

GREAT first day. They are so happy to be back and see friends. They liked their teachers. Ate outside. Sounds like they have a good plan to transition kids back.

[Anonymous]

Great job teachers and admins and support staff! We missed you and appreciate all your hard work.

I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces with the extended day staff. So happy to see they were able to be kept on during virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great job teachers and admins and support staff! We missed you and appreciate all your hard work.

I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces with the extended day staff. So happy to see they were able to be kept on during virtual.

Oh yes. They were the ones coming in to supervise virtual school in person for students with disabilities while teachers stayed home.

A totally ethical situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

Emailing the teacher to say your kid had a rough first day and you'd like to know how to help him have a better year does not make you "that parent"!

(If you emailed the principal full of bile, demanding to know how this could happen, *then* you would be that parent)

Hugs. I hope the rest of the week is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First grader had a terrible day, was supposed to ride the bus, and the bus wouldn’t let him on, so I picked up a kid who was in tears. Said everything was really boring, the only fun thing was lunch, nobody sat next to him at lunch and he didn’t eat lunch fast enough to do recess. Couldn’t tell me anything that he learned or anything that he enjoyed.

I take it that’s not typical

I’ve already become that mom and emailed the teacher.

Emailing the teacher to say your kid had a rough first day and you'd like to know how to help him have a better year does not make you "that parent"!

(If you emailed the principal full of bile, demanding to know how this could happen, *then* you would be that parent)

Hugs. I hope the rest of the week is better.

+1

I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out. They are prepared for this and want to help. They want happy, engaged kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great job teachers and admins and support staff! We missed you and appreciate all your hard work.

I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces with the extended day staff. So happy to see they were able to be kept on during virtual.

Oh yes. They were the ones coming in to supervise virtual school in person for students with disabilities while teachers stayed home.

A totally ethical situation.

That happened to your student? FCPS used that model but APS did not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They told us there would be older kids to help the 1st graders find their classrooms (since parents can’t escort kids to the room), but apparently my daughter wandered around inside the new school by herself for 15 minutes before finding the room. Oops. And…she said that was her favorite part of the day.

“I was lost and it looked bleak for me. Then I found the classroom and I was only 3 minutes late! It was great!”

“It looked bleak for me”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They told us there would be older kids to help the 1st graders find their classrooms (since parents can’t escort kids to the room), but apparently my daughter wandered around inside the new school by herself for 15 minutes before finding the room. Oops. And…she said that was her favorite part of the day.

“I was lost and it looked bleak for me. Then I found the classroom and I was only 3 minutes late! It was great!”

“It looked bleak for me”?

She has a flare for dramatics.